SENATE DOCKET, NO. 616        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 766

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia S. Creem

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to counsel at parole hearings for juvenile life sentences.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Cynthia S. Creem

First Middlesex and Norfolk

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 616        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 766

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 766) of Cynthia S. Creem, Carolyn C. Dykema, James B. Eldridge and Marjorie C. Decker for legislation relative to counsel at parole hearings for juvenile life sentences.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to counsel at parole hearings for juvenile life sentences.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 133A of chapter 127, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

If the prisoner is serving a life sentence for murder in the first degree committed before the prisoner's eighteenth birthday, the prisoner shall have the right to have appointed counsel at the parole hearing if deemed to be indigent and the right to funds for experts as determined by the standards under chapter 211D.